Garden Update Summer 2012

Herb garden in the foreground.  In the background is a Natchez Crepe Myrtle we planted to screen the porch.  It hasn't bloomed this year, but the bark is peeling and revealing the pretty cinnamon color.

Herb garden - we added some chimney flue tiles to add some height.  In the background is our Hollywood Juniper.  It has grown about 2 feet since we planted it.

A shot of the center of the yard.  On the left is a Travellers Weeping Redbud (at least that is what the tag said - it seems large to me to be Travellers).  In the center is a Dessert Willow - it has tripled in size since we planted it last year.  A variety of perennials and annuals underneath are filling in nicely.

Our neighbors gave us some leftover brick, and we used them to make some mulch pathways.  On the left is a perennial hibiscus.

Vegetable bed with grape tomatoes, squash and cantaloupe trailing off the back right corner.  This is the first year we have had any success with our vegetables. 

Vegetable bed 2 filled with many variety of peppers, mostly hot.  On the back are two varieties of cucumber.  We have really enjoyed the Orient Express cucumber on the left.  They are a bit weird looking but have a great flavor.

This is a photo of our new Burkwood Viburnum.  It was planted last fall and had a lot of blooms in the spring.  It is looking a little sad right now - hopefully it will start filling in.

Another new pathway and tool storage on the fence.

This is our new screening fence around our firepit.  It is planted with Crossvine which has not filled in yet, but once the fence is covered, it will screen out our garden and wood storage.  In the front is hummingbird sage, zinnias, cannas and creeping jenny groundcover.

Life on the Ligustrum

My ligustrum is teeming with life this afternoon...

In My Garden - March 2012

Garden Update: Fall 2011

The crepe myrtle was planted just before the summer heat.
It seems to be doing okay considering the drought & heat we had.

Herb garden

The grass on the left was purchased on clearance for about $1.75.
It has probably grown 8-fold what it was.

Sweet potato vine is growing rampant.

Castor bean plants grown from seed are well above the fence now.

The vegetable garden is overgrown with watermelon vines.
Despite how it looks, it was not very productive.
Several watermelon, a few cantaloupe and a handful of
grape tomatoes were all we got this year.

This is the prize watermelon....15 lbs!

Garden Update: Summer 2011

Here are some updated photos of our backyard garden.

Herb garden in the foreground.  The urn has a fountain in it.
To the right is a new crepe myrtle which should provide
some shade for the porch.

This year's vegetable garden is better than last year's.
At least the plants are alive, but they are not thriving.
We'll make some changes and hopefully next year will be better.

Basilwood Garden

Design

Starting point

Removing the bermuda grass lawn.

The bobcat damaged the sprinkler lines, and the snow didn't help either.

Installing the edging for the walkway after installing a french drain.

Decomposed granite walkway.

Soil and mulch delivery.

Getting some plants installed.

Herb garden in the foreground.

More views.

Red banana plants on the right.  The large tree is a loquat.

Vegetable garden in recycled tires.

Cincinnati Garden

Here are some photos of my garden in Cincinnati.

Purple smoketree, blue spruce & irises

Bench & perennials

Crab apple in the front yard

Tulips

Thyme in bloom along blue stone wall.

Weeping cherry in bloom.

Evergreens

Boxwood and pansies

Front patio & window box

Bleeding heart